Combined tube connector and tube flarer



April 5, 1949. R. SOMMA 2,466,057

COMBINED TUBE-CONNECTOR AND TUBE-FLARER Filed Feb. 18, 1947 2 SheebS-Sheekl l April 5, 1949. R SQMMA COMBINED TUBE-CONNECTOR AND TUBE-FLARER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1947 Z3 zz 1b I8 17 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 COMBINED TUBE CONNECTOR AND TUBE FLARER Raymond Somma, Waterbury, Conn.

Application February 18, 1947, Serial No. 729,232

The present invention relates to improvements in combined connectors and arers for tubes, i. e., fittings which not only serve to connect a tube to a desired object but which also serveY to flare the end of such a tube to provide the desired fluidtight and mechanically-strong connection.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior tting of the character referred to which may be readily and economically manufactured and conveniently used.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a superior combined tube-connector and tube-fiarer which will not require an excessive and expensive degree of accuracy in its manufacture in order to insure the proper discharge of its functions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior fitting of the character referred to which will permit the ready disconnection of a tube, once the latter has been flared and connected.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a superior combined tube-connector and tube-arer having its parts so constructed and arranged that the majority thereof may be re-used and not require discarding.

With the above and other objects in view, as Will appear to those skilled in Jthe art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one form of a combined tube-connector and tube-ilarer embodying the present invention and showing a fragment of a tube connected thereto;

Fig. 2 is an inner-end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an outer-end view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a central-longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale than the preceding gures and showing a position which the parts may assume during the initial stages of assembly;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 butrshowing the female-member threaded onto the malemember to a further degree suillcient to inwardly bend the gripping-ange of the tube-gripping band into gripping engagement with the tube but prior to the aring of the said tube and prior to the severance of the stop-ange;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5but showing the parts in the positions which they assume immediately after the stop-flange of the 5 Claims. (Cl. 285-122) tube-gripping band has been severed and after l the end of the tube has been partly ared;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, save that the parts have moved into position to complete the flaring of the end of the tube and the full mechanical gripping thereof in a fluid-tight manner;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the male-member shown partly in section;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the female-member;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tube-gripping lband partly in section and shown in its condition prior to application to a tube; and

Fig, 11 is a. perspective view partly in longitudinal section of the end of the tube and the tube-gripping band after their removal from the fitting after the parts of the latter have reached the condition shown in Fig. '7.

The particular combined tube-connector and tube-ilarer illustrated in the accompanying drawings for purposes of making clear a preferred form of the present invention, includes a bodyor male-member generally designated by the reference character Ill, a bodyor femalemember generally designated by the reference character Il, and a tube-gripping band generally designated by the reference character I2. The said parts may be formed of any suitable material such, for instance, as brass, stainless steel, etc., and are designed to be used in connection with a tube generally designated by the reference character I3, which latter may, for instance, be formed of copper, brass, plastic, or other suitable material capable of being ilared or flanged substantially in the manner hereinafter described.

The male-member I0 above referred to is, in the instance shown, formed intermediate its respective opposite ends with an exterior polygonal wrench-receiving portion I4 and at its inner end is formed with an externally-threaded stem I5 which is adapted to be threaded into any desired article such, for instance, as a water-tank or into another tubeor pipe-tting.

The end of the male-member I0 opposite its stem I5 is provided with external threads IB and terminates in an integral collar I1 which is preferably Unthreaded and the end of which constitutes a stop-abutment, for purposes as will hereinafter appear. Within its outer end and hence also within the collar I'I, the male-member I0 is formed with a chamber I8 having an inclined bottom wall providing a conical or flaregripping seat I9, for purposes as will hereinafter appear. Extending completely through the malemember I Il from the end of its stem I5 to its f 3 chamber I8 is an axial passage 28 through which water, gas, or any other desired fluid may iiow in either direction.

The female-member II above referred to includes a polygonal wrench-receiving. portion 2l at its outer end and a skirt 22 at its inner end. The said skirt is integral with the portion 2| and is provided with internal threads 23 which are adapted to inte'lt with the threads I6 upon the exterior of the outer portion of the male-member I0.

The outer portion of the female-member II is surface 26. The said deecting-surface is preferably and as shown, curved or arcuate.

The tube-gripping band I2 previously referred to has an interior diameter such as to have a sliding t upon the exterior of a tube such as I3 in conjunction with which thesaid band may be designed to be used. At its inner end, the said band I2 Ais formed with an inclined or conical flare-gripping seat 21 extending in substantial parallelism with the flare-gripping seat I9 in the male-member I0, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

The tube-gripping band I2 is so shaped and sized as to be capable of being extending into the chamber I8 in the male-member I0 and into the chamber 25 in the female-member II. outer end, the said band I2 is formed with an integral gripping-ilange 28 thinner than the mainor body-portion of the band I2 and preferably having its outer surface iiush with the adjacent outer surface of theband prior to being deformed, as may be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 10. Closely adjacent its inner end, the band I2 is formed upon its exterior with a radially-projecting stop-flange or stop-projection 28 which is adapted to engage with the end of the collar I'I of the male-member I0, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Operationv In using a combined tube-connector and tubeiiarer of the particular design illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the tube I3 may be slipped through the tube-receiving passage 24 in the female-member II and extended into (and beyond,if desired) the interior of the skirt 22. I'he tube-gripping band or ring I2 may now be placed over the end ofthe tube I3 following which deflected end of the gripping-flange 28 will serve to compress the material of the said tube I3 to produce, in the outer periphery thereof, a groove 80 and to produce upon the interior of the said tube, a bead 3l. Thus, the tube-gripping band l I2 will interlock itself with the tube I3 in such rformed centrally with a tube-receiving passage l At its y manner that any movement of the said band in an axial direction will similarly move the tube Il.

The parts may now be assumed to have reached the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5, and it may here be explained' that the strength of the stop-flange 28 of the tube-gripping band I2 is such as to resist the axial movement of the band I 2 into the chamber I8 of the male-member I0 until such time as the gripping-flange 28 has been forced into rm interlocking engagement with the tube I3.

Thev continued inte'rthreading of the malemember III and female-member I I after the parts have reached the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5. will outwardly are 'the end of the tube I3 by forcing the same down the incline of the conical seat I9, while at thesame time Yshearing off the stop-flange 28 from the tubeparted from the said tube-receiving band I2.

The further interthreading of the male-member I0 and female-member I I will ultimately fully flare the end of the tube I3 to produce thereon the flare or flange 32, shown in Figs. 7 and 11, and will tightly pinch or compress the said flange or flare into a fluid-tight and mechanicallystrong connection when the parts reach the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7. Under these conditions, the noW-sheared-off stop-ange 28 will be free to oat about substantially the central portion of the tube-gripping band I2 adjacent the end of the collar Il of the malemember I0, as is shown in Fig. 7.

Should it be desired for any reason to disconnect the tube I3 from the male-member I Il, the

female-member II may be Unthreaded from the said male-member, whereupon the end of the tube I3 together with-its now tightly attached tube-gripping band I2, may be withdrawn out of the chamber I8 in the male-member II), since the said tube-gripping band may be readily withdrawn from the said chamber I 8.

The connection of the tube I3 to the malemember I8 or its equivalent may be re-established by merely restoring the parts to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7.

In rthe event that it is desired to utilize the male-member I0 and the female-member II in connection with another tube such as I3, it only becomes necessary to sever the tube I3 which may be done closely adjacent the polygonal end of the female-member I I. Following this operation, the severed end of the tube together with the tubegripping band I2 and its noW-sheared-off stopfiange 29 may be withdrawn from within the female-member and discarded. Now by employing a new tube-gripping band I2 like that shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, the parts I0 and II may be re-used either in connection with a fresh tube or in connection with a new portion of the shortened tube I3.

Obviously, if desired, the stem I5 may be omitted and the male-member I0 may be provided at that end with a second set of features like I8 to I8 inclusive to provide a double-ended fitting to interconnect two tubes like I3.

Preferably and as shown, both the grippingflange 28 and the stop-flange 29 of the tubegripping band or ring I2 are circumferentially continuous though this feature is not necessary, since the said flanges may be circumferentially interrupted. The said anges 28 and 29 or their equivalents must, however, have characteristics such that the said stop-flange will not shear off or break loose from the exterior of the tube-gripping band 'I2 until it has sufficiently resisted the movement of the said band toward the malemember l0 to insure the deformation of the gripping-flange 28 into locking engagement with the tube I3. Conversely, the gripping-flange 28 or its equivalent must be sufficiently exible to deform and rmly grip the tube I3 or its equivalent before the stop-flange 29 or its equivalent will be sheared off from the band I2.

'Ihe invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A combined tube-connector and tube-i'larer, including in combination: a first body-member provided with threads for engagement with the threads of the hereinafter-mentioned second body-member, said rst body-member being formed with a longitudinal passage and with an inclined flare-gripping seat surrounding the said passage, the said iirst body-member also being provided with a stop-abutment facing toward and positioned for engagement by the stop-projection of the hereinafter-mentioned tube-gripping band; a second body-member provided with threads for engagement with the threads of the said' first body-member, the said second body-memberl being formed with a tube-receiving passage and with an inclined deecting-surface around the said passage and inclined in the same general direction as the nare-gripping seat of the said rst body-member; and a tube-gripping band adapted to fit upon the end-portion of a tube and having an inclined flare-gripping seat complementing and adapted to cooperate with the flare-gripping seat in the first body-member, the said tube-gripping band also having inwardlybendable gripping-means positioned to engage with the inclined defiecting-surface of the said second body-member to be forced inwardly thereby into gripping engagement with the periphery of a tube, the said tube-gripping band also having upon its exterior a stop-projection which is normally rigid therewith but displaceable with respect thereto, the said stop-projection being located for engagement with the stop-abutment of the said first body-member prior to the cooperation of the nare-gripping seat of the said band with the flare-gripping seat of the said first body-member; the relative resistances to displacement of the gripping-means and the stopprojection of the said tube-gripping band being such that the said gripping-means will be deected into gripping engagement with a tube before the said stop-projection is displaced.

2. A combined tube-connector and tube-flarer, including in combination: a first body-member provided with threads for engagement with the threads of the hereinafter-mentioned second body-member, said first body-member being formed with a longitudinal passage and with an inclined flare-gripping seat surrounding the said passage, the said rst body-member also being provided with a stop-abutment facing toward and positioned for engagement 6 by the mentioned tube-gripping band; a second bodymember provided with threads for engagement.

with the threads of the said first body-member, the said second body-member being formed with a tube-receiving passage and with an inclined defiecting-surface around the said passage and inclined in the same general direction as the flaregripping seat of the said first-body member; and a tube-gripping band adapted to fit upon the endportion of a tube and having an inclined aregripping seat complementing and adapted to cooperate with the hare-gripping seat in the first body-member, the said tube-gripping band also having at its end opposite its said seat inwardlybendable gripping-means positioned to engage' with the inclined deiecting-surface of the said second body-member to be forced inwardly thereby into gripping engagement with the periphery of a tube, the said tube-gripping band also having upon its exterior a stop-projection which is normally rigid therewith but displaceable with respect thereto, the said stop-projection being located for engagement with the stop-abutment of the said rst body-member prior to the cooperation of the nare-gripping seat of the said band with the flare-gripping seat of the said first body-member; the relative resistances to displacement of the gripping-means at the end of the said tube-gripping band and the stop-projection on the said band being such that the said gripping-means will be deflected into gripping engagement with a tube before the said stopprojection is displaced.

3. A combined tube-connector and tube-arer, including in combination: a male body-member provided with external threads for engagement with the internal threads of the hereinaftermentioned female body-member, said male body- 40 member being formed with a longitudinal passage and with an inclined hare-gripping seat surrounding the said passage, the said male bodymember also being provided with a stop abutment facing toward and positioned for engagement by the stop-projection of the hereinafter-mentioned tube-gripping band; a female body-member provided with internal threads for engagement with the external threads of the said male body-member, the said female body-member being formed with a tube-receiving passage and with an inclined deecting-surface around the said passage and inclined in the same general direction as the dare-gripping seat of the said male body-member; and a tube-gripping band adapted to fit upon the end-portion of a tube and having an inclined nare-gripping seat complementing and adapted to cooperate with the hare-gripping seat in the male body-member, the said tube-gripping band also having inwardly-bendable gripping-means positioned to engage with the inclined defiectingsurface of the said female body-member to be forced inwardly thereby into gripping engagement with the periphery of a tube, the said tubegripping band also having upon its exterior a stop-projection which is normally rigid therewith but displaceable with'respect thereto, the said stop-projection being located for engagement with the stop-abutment of the said male bodymember prior to the cooperation of the flaregripping seat of the said band with the flaregripping seat of the said male body-member; the relative resistances to displacement ofthe gripping-means and the stop-projection of the said tube-gripping band being such that the said gripping-means will be deflected into gripping enstop-projection of the hereinaftergagement with a tube before the said stop-projection is displaced.

4. A combined tube-connector and tube-fiarer, including in combination: a male body-member provided with external threads for engagement with the internal threads of ,the hereinaftermentioned female body-member, said male bodymember being formed with a longitudinal passage and with an inclined dare-gripping seat surrounding the said passage, the said male body-member also being provided with 'a stop-abutment facing toward and positioned for engagement by the stop projection of the hereinafter mentioned tube-gripping band; a female body-member provided with internal threads for engagement with the external threads of the said male body-member, the said female body-member being formed with a tube-receiving passage and with an inclined defiecting-surface around the said passage and inclined in the same general direction as the flare-gripping seat of the said male body-member; and a tube-gripping band adapted to t upon the end-portion of a tube and having an inclined flare-gripping seat complementing and adapted to cooperate with the flare-gripping seat in the male body-member, the said tube-gripping band also having at its end opposite its said seat inwardly-bendable gripping-means positioned to engage with the inclined deecting-surface of the said female body-member to be forced inwardly thereby into gripping engagement with the periphery of a tube, the said tube-gripping band also having upon its exterior a stop-projection which is normally rigid therewith but displaceable with respect thereto, the said stopprojection being located for engagement with the stop-abutment of the said male body-member `prior to the cooperation of the flare-gripping seat of the said band with the flare-gripping seat of the said male body-member; the relative resistances to displacement of the gripping-means at the end of the said tube-gripping band and the stop-projection on the said band being such that the said gripping-means will bedeflected into gripping engagement with a tube vbefore the said stop-projection is displaced.

5. A combined tube-connector and tube-arer, including in combination: a male body-member provided with external threads for engagement with the internal threads of the hereinaftermember being formed with a longitudinal passage and with an inclined nare-gripping seat surrounding the said passage, the said male bodymember also being provided with a stop-abutment facing toward and positioned for engagement by the stop-projection of the hereinafter-mentioned tube-gripping band; a. female body-member provided with internal threads for engagement withv the external threads of the said male body-member, the said female body-member being formed with a tube-receiving passage and with an inclined deilecting-surface around the said passage and inclined in the same general direction as the flare-gripping seat of the said male body-member; and a tube-gripping band adapted to t upon the end-portion of a tube and having an inclined flare-gripping vseat complementing and adapted to cooperate with the flare-gripping seat inthe male body-member, the'said tube-gripping band also having at its end opposite its said seat an inwardly-bendable gripping-flange positioned to engage with the inclined deflecting-surface of the said female body-member to be bent inwardly thereby into gripping engagement with the periphery of a tube, the said tube-gripping band also having upon its exterior a stop-projection which is normally rigid therewith but displaceable with respect thereto. the said stop-projection being located for engagement with the stopabutment of the said male body-member prior to the cooperation of the flare-gripping seat of the said band with the nare-gripping seat of the said male body-member; the relative resistances to displacement of the gripping-ange and the stopprojection of the said tube-gripping band being such that the said gripping-flange will be bent into gripping engagement with a tube before the said stop-projection is displaced.

RAYMOND SOMMA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,013,598 Gracey Jan. 2, 1912 2,128,459 Guarnaschelli Aug. 30, 1938 2,255,673 McDermott Sept. 9, 1941 -FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,529 taly 1933 

